research

= Dr. Nancy Everhart =

** Research, key findings and contributions to the field: **



 * Developed an online leadership development program (Project LEAD) at Florida State University for school library media specialists.


 * Is principal investigator of "Leadership in Action: School Library Media Sepcialists for the 21st Century: Leaders Educated to Make a Difference." By means of a recent IMLS grant to develop 30 future school library media specialist leaders based on the curriculum for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. This grant required all 30 participants to join AASL and FAME, come to a national and state library media conference and serve as a volunteer. In addition, Dr. Everhart has also obtained another grant which will follow these potential leaders into their first year on the job to determine the impact of leadership education. The research will look to determine how LIS education programs prepare school library media specialists and if they are being prepared to be leaders in the integration of technology throughout their schools. According to Dr. Everhart, "this new grant will essentially determine if our leadership graduates can not only talk the talk but walk the walk." (http://www.palmcenter.fsu.edu/page386.aspx)


 * In 2005 she was awarded a grant from the IASL, and conducted a research study //Librarians' use of time: An international perspective.//


 * In 2003 she wrote the book, //Controversial Issues in School Librarianship: Divergent Perspectives,// where she takes on the task of presenting both sides of relevant and pertinent and sometimes controversial topics that face school library media specialists. As a teaching tool, this book provides resources and outlines options for addressing major issues. She is able to impart the value of good researcher skills in order to support your side of an argument.


 * Acting as research editor for Knowledge Quest (2001-present), she has discussed and disseminated the research findings from other researchers in the field of library media studies. Imparting not only her own research findings but that of others to media specialists in an encapsulated format easy to digest and understand is key in enabling this research to be actively utilized.


 * In her 1998 book, //Evaluating The School Library Media Center: Analysis Techniques And Research Practices, //she outlines how to conduct research, collect statistics, and evaluate your SLM program. She has provided invaluable and perhaps timeless tools to help modify, justify, and support your SLMC operations and effectiveness. Now more then ever, this is a resource for providing empirical evidence to promote the value of school libraries and media specialists.


 * Was a media specialist pioneer, being one of the first librarians in the nation to automate a media center in the 1980's.

// "If you only look at what is, you might never attain what could be." Unkown //

